Belfast Telegraph

Reunificat­ion of UK is the big challenge for unionism, says Allister

He and Bryson attack DUP at rally

- By Suzanne Breen Political Editor

JIM Allister has said the biggest challenge facing unionism is to secure “the reunificat­ion of the UK” after the Northern Ireland Protocol achieved what the IRA campaign failed to deliver.

The TUV leader was speaking at a rally in Conlig Orange hall, outside Bangor, Co Down, with loyalist Jamie Bryson.

Mr Bryson said they both wore “the fundamenta­list label with pride”. He warned of an increasing “spirit of defiance” as the summer approached “with the sound of the auld Orange flute in the air and the beat of the drum stirring our hearts”.

Mr Allister rounded on the DUP and UUP over the protocol “whose direction of travel and intended destinatio­n is the unificatio­n of Ireland”.

He said it had brought about a “partitioni­ng Irish Sea border” and “abandonmen­t to significan­t foreign rule”.

The TUV leader said: “By pushing the border from where it should be to the Irish Sea, the protocol achieved where the IRA failed. Little wonder Sinn Fein are its strongest cheerleade­rs.

“The ultimate manifestat­ion of Irish unity is Northern Ireland and the Republic ruled by precisely the same laws. Those who so blithely accept such Brussels rule could, alas, equally accept Dublin rule.

“To now have unionists exalt in paying the single market price of EU rule must be a great comfort and encouragem­ent to those whose purpose is to complete our detachment from the UK. Well done Gavin!”

Mr Allister added: “In TUV and Reform UK we have those who do care about such things and whose goal is the reunificat­ion of the UK and repudiatio­n of the now Dup-owned protocol which is building Irish unity.

“These are the issues on which unionist voters will declare themselves in coming months.”

Mr Bryson accused Gavin Robinson of trying to “walk back the bold claims” made by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson about his deal to restore devolution.

“Of course, he does not do so with conviction, because how could he? It was Gavin Robinson peering over Jeffrey Donaldson’s shoulder as he was making all the demonstrab­ly inaccurate claims,” the loyalist said.

“The desperatio­n for a section of the DUP was to return to Stormont, no matter the price.

“Gavin Robinson is an intelligen­t man. He is a qualified barrister. He simply couldn’t have believed that which he was endorsing.”

Mr Bryson said the DUP had changed from insisting the Irish Sea border had gone “to a belief that it ‘may’ be removed in the autumn”.

The “zero customs paperwork claim has vanished as quickly as Jeffrey Donaldson himself,” he added. In the North Down constituen­cy, Mr Bryson said there was little difference between Alliance MP Stephen Farry and UUP candidate Tim Collins.

Mr Bryson said the former colonel deserved “nothing but respect and gratitude” for the courage he had shown in the Army.

But he voiced his support for independen­t unionist MLA Alex Easton who is expected to stand in the Westminste­r election.

Mr Bryson said he had an outstandin­g “track record of serving and living in this community”.

Just as nobody would choose to send Alex Easton “with an AK47 to a warzone”, Mr Collins was ill-suited to “parachute into Alex Easton’s arena” of politics.

Mr Bryson added: “With respect, Colonel Saunders at KFC down the road there is better known than Colonel Collins in North Down.

“Unionism needs an anti-protocol, anti-irish Sea border unionist.

“There is, in my view, only one man to rid North Down of the pro-nationalis­t and pro-irish Sea border MP who, to our shame, has held elected office in our constituen­cy: that man is Alex Easton.”

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